Black powder & brass cases

[Old Badger]

Hello Everyone:
I have a question about black powder cartridges.
How long is the shelf life of cartridges loaded with black powder. Will the powder react with
the brass in a loaded case?
I know once they're fired, black powder residue will affect the brass cases pretty quick. Forgot my jar
of soapy water once when I went to the range and the brass was getting nasty and starting to corrode
before I got around to cleaning them.
I really like my 1876 Uberti in .45-60 and have been firing mainly black powder in it with great results.
Also, I just picked up Lyman's new 49th Edition manual and they have an article on the 1876 rifle with smokeless
loading data for .40-60wcf, .45-60wcf and .45-75wcf. Always liked the Lyman manuals and this one is highly
recommended, as always they have their cast bullet loads thru out the manual and the 1876 article is iceing on the cake.
Have a good one.

[McLernon]

Hi OLd Badger:

How about posting the load data for 5744 for the 350 gr boolit in the 45-75.

Great to see actual published smokeless loads for my 76.

Thanks

Mc

[Grizzly Adams]

Hi OLd Badger:

How about posting the load data for 5744 for the 350 gr boolit in the 45-75.

Great to see actual published smokeless loads for my 76.

Thanks

Mc

See reply #69  here:  http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,17938.60.html

The data is from Accurate.

Hey Old Badger, how about sharing some of the data with us!

[Goatlips]

Howdy Badger,

Can't say nothing about serious BP rifle cartridges, but I sometimes shoot Cowboy BP rounds that are home cast, pan lubed, and have been sitting in a tin shed in Florida for ten years.  They work fine.

Goatlips

[Big Goose]

Greetings Old Badger,
 I pulled the bullets on a couple 1890 vintage .43 Spanish cartridges to check see what the bullet diameter really was, and anyways, the powder charge was quite compressed, very dark, shiny looking, appeared to be the same  grain shape and size as todays Goex 2F, but as I said shiny looking. The cases looked fine inside without much more corrosion ( or patina) than the outside had- maybe less. So, I'm guessing that if you start with clean brass and fresh blackpowder charges, they'll last a long, long time. Big Goose

[Ransom Gaer]

Somebody on the SASS Wire was asking basically the same question in regards to regular BP pistol cartridges.  I said I was using some loads that were at least a year old and they still worked fine.

I don't think the BP will react with the brass cases, so they should last indefinitely.  Someone also responded that post that he had found some rounds from the 1880's and they worked just fine.

Ransom Gaer

[Old Badger]

Hello:
They did not use the 350 gr. bullet for their loading data tests. They used the 292 gr. Lyman #457191 and the
330 gr. Hollow Point Lyman #457122, same bullets used for the .45-60 test data. They also used #2 Lyman alloy with Alox lube.
Their loads are for modern reproduction rifles only and the rifles used were from Chaparral Repeating Arms.
I wouldn't want to commit any copyright infringements so I suggest buying the 49th Edition manual. It has lots of info and only costs $19.99 at http://www.midwayusa.com/ after all, that's how they make money to do these tests for us shooter who don't have the resources to do our own testing. I have used Lyman's 47th and 48th manuals for years and really like their data.
Also, I wouldn't want to cause a accidental overload if I hit the wrong key or didn't read something correctly.
Thanks for the info on shelf life with black powder loads.
Have a good one.